Author: Freddie Whittaker

Eight institutions suspected of running illegal schools are currently under criminal investigation, it has emerged, just over a week after the government won its first legal battle against an unregistered school. In a trial widely seen as a test case for the government’s clampdown on illegal schools, headteacher Beatrix Bernhardt, 38 and director Nacerdine Talbi, […]

Increases in school funding targeted at poorer pupils have helped to reduce the gap in education spending between rich and poor pupils, according to a think tank. A study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that differences in funding by social class “have now vanished” as a result of changes to the distribution of […]

The chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman has outlined the “major risks” to the quality of education, and renewed calls for greater powers for inspectors. In a letter to the parliamentary public accounts committee, Spielman said Ofsted “has not hesitated to speak out” when its inspections identify system-wide concerns, and pledged to continue to “speak from the […]

A move to close schools built by construction firm Western Building Systems in the Republic of Ireland has prompted fears for the safety of school buildings in England. The Irish Department of Education has launched an investigation after Tyrrelstown Educate Together and St Lukes National School in Dublin were closed following the identification of structural […]

Philip Hammond has defended his pledge of funding for “little extras” for schools, and said it would be “useful” to pay for “whiteboards and laptop computers”. Speaking on the Today Programme, the chancellor said his announcement of a £400 million in year capital “bonus” for schools in yesterday’s budget was “quite different” from the government’s […]

Schools will get £400 million in extra capital funding this year, the chancellor has announced. Philip Hammond has allocated the in-year “bonus” for schools in his autumn budget today, “to help our schools buy the little extras they need”. However, the funding can only be spend on capital projects like equipment and maintenance, and not […]

The chancellor Philip Hammond has outlined his spending plans for the next year, but little is on offer to schools. Here’s your trusty Schools Week round-up.   1. £400m capital for ‘little extras’ Schools will be handed grants totalling £400 million this year for equipment and maintenance, or “little extras”, as Hammond described it in […]

A decision by the government to hand schools less money than is due to be spent on fixing potholes has been branded “inexplicable” by a headteachers’ union. Philip Hammond pledged this afternoon to give schools an extra £400 million in capital grants, but this pales in comparison to the £6.7 billion needed to bring school […]

A leading headteacher who had a sexual relationship with a former pupil has been found not guilty of unacceptable professional conduct, but may have brought the teaching profession into disrepute, a teacher misconduct panel has ruled. John Tomsett appeared in front of a Teacher Regulation Agency panel this week to face allegations said to have […]